Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir[2†]

Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), a French writer and existentialist philosopher, is renowned for her groundbreaking treatise "The Second Sex", challenging the concept of the "eternal feminine." Alongside existentialists like Sartre, Camus, and Merleau-Ponty, she crafted a diverse body of work spanning ethics, feminism, fiction, and politics. Notable novels include "She Came to Stay" and "The Mandarins", while her memoirs, particularly "Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter", resonate for their vivid portrayal. Beauvoir's pioneering feminist philosophy and incisive analysis of women's oppression have left an enduring mark on both existentialism and feminist theory, shaping her legacy in history[1†][2†][3†].

Early Years and Education

Simone de Beauvoir was born on January 9, 1908, in the Montparnasse area of Paris, France[4†]. She was born into a bourgeois family. Her parents were Georges Bertrand de Beauvoir, a lawyer who once aspired to be an actor, and Françoise Beauvoir (née Brasseur), a wealthy banker’s daughter and devout Catholic[4†][2†]. Simone had a sister, Hélène, who was born two years later, on June 6, 1910[4†][2†].

The family struggled to maintain their bourgeois status after losing much of their fortune shortly after World War I, and Françoise insisted the two daughters be sent to a prestigious convent school[4†][2†]. Beauvoir was intellectually precocious, fueled by her father’s encouragement; he reportedly would boast, "Simone thinks like a man!"[4†][2†]. Because of her family’s straitened circumstances, she could no longer rely on her dowry, and like other middle-class girls of her age, her marriage opportunities were put at risk. She took this opportunity to take steps towards earning a living for herself[4†][2†].

Beauvoir attended the Institut Adeline-Désir, a Roman Catholic school for girls, among other private institutions[4†][5†]. She began studying philosophy at the Sorbonne in 1926[4†][5†]. In 1929 she passed the rigorous agrégation in philosophy (placing a close second to Jean-Paul Sartre), which qualified her for appointment to a high teaching post[4†][5†]. It was while studying for it that she met École Normale students Jean-Paul Sartre, Paul Nizan, and René Maheu (who gave her the lasting nickname “Castor”, or “beaver”)[4†][2†].

Career Development and Achievements

Simone de Beauvoir’s career was marked by her intellectual rigor, her commitment to existentialist philosophy, and her dedication to feminist causes[1†][2†]. After passing her agrégation in philosophy in 1929, she taught at a number of schools from 1931 to 1943[1†]. However, her passion for writing and philosophy led her to leave teaching and focus on her writing career[1†].

In 1945, Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre founded “Les Temps Modernes”, a monthly review, which became a significant platform for existentialist thought[1†]. Her novels, such as “She Came to Stay” (1943), expounded the major existential themes, demonstrating her conception of the writer’s commitment to the times[1†]. This novel describes the subtle destruction of a couple’s relationship brought about by a young girl’s prolonged stay in their home[1†].

Perhaps her best-known work is “The Second Sex” (1949), a detailed analysis of women’s oppression and a foundational tract of contemporary feminism[1†][2†]. This scholarly and passionate plea for the abolition of what she called the myth of the “eternal feminine” became a classic of feminist literature[1†].

Another notable work is “The Mandarins” (1954), for which she won the Prix Goncourt[1†][2†]. This novel is a chronicle of the attempts of post-World War II intellectuals to leave their “mandarin” (educated elite) status and engage in political activism[1†].

Beauvoir also wrote four books of philosophy, including “The Ethics of Ambiguity” (1947), and travel books on China (“The Long March”, 1957) and the United States (“America Day by Day”, 1948)[1†]. Her works cut across traditional academic fields to produce important works of literature, criticism, and philosophy[1†][6†].

Throughout her career, Beauvoir fought for the rights of women, bringing forth the issues of women’s suffrage and property rights[1†][7†][8†]. She also struggled to find the place of a woman in sexuality, in the workplace, and family matters by allowing the woman to have reproductive rights[1†][7†][8†].

First Publication of Her Main Works

Simone de Beauvoir was a prolific writer, and her works spanned various genres including philosophy, novels, memoirs, essays, and social commentary[1†][2†]. Here are some of her most notable works:

• “L’Invitée” (She Came To Stay): Published in 1943, this novel describes the subtle destruction of a couple’s relationship brought about by a young girl’s prolonged stay in their home[1†][2†].
• “Pour une Morale de l’ambiguité” (The Ethics of Ambiguity): This philosophical work was published in 1947 and is considered one of her most famous philosophical works[1†][9†].
• “Le Deuxième Sexe” (The Second Sex): Published in 1949, this is Beauvoir’s most famous work and a foundational tract of contemporary feminism. It provides a detailed analysis of women’s oppression[1†][2†][10†].
• “Les Mandarins” (The Mandarins): This novel, published in 1954, won the Prix Goncourt. It is a chronicle of the attempts of post-World War II intellectuals to leave their “mandarin” (educated elite) status and engage in political activism[1†][2†].
• “Mémoires d’une jeune fille rangée” (Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter): Published in 1958, this is the first volume of her memoirs and is considered her most enduring contribution to literature[1†][2†].

Each of these works had a significant impact on their respective fields and continue to be studied and celebrated for their profound insights and contributions[1†][2†][9†][10†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Simone de Beauvoir’s work has had a profound impact on both literature and philosophy, particularly in the realm of existentialism and feminism[11†][12†]. Her writings, which spanned various genres, posed central philosophical and ethical questions of her time, exploring problems of social morality, political commitment, and human responsibility[11†].

Beauvoir’s existentialist engagement and moral voice have secured her a prominent position in twentieth-century letters[11†]. Her novels, especially “She Came to Stay”, “The Blood of Others”, and “The Mandarins”, for which she won the Prix Goncourt in 1954, chronicle the time before and after World War II and the experiences that made her one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century[11†].

Her philosophical interaction with Jean-Paul Sartre, her partner and professional collaborator, has been a subject of great interest. While Beauvoir claimed her philosophical voice was merely an elaboration of Sartre’s, her work stands on its own merits[11†][12†]. Scholars continue to study Beauvoir’s literary and philosophical output to discern which philosophical ideas are her own[11†][12†].

Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex”, a carefully documented study of the situation of women, became one of the major theoretical texts of the women’s movement[11†]. Her commitment to women’s rights and social justice was evident in her activism against France’s restrictive abortion laws and her signing of the “Manifeste des 343”, a document listing women who admitted having had abortions[11†].

In her philosophical work, Beauvoir held that human experience is intrinsically ambiguous and that there are no values extrinsic to experience[11†][13†]. This concept of ambiguity is a cornerstone of her existentialist ethics[11†][13†].

In conclusion, Simone de Beauvoir’s work, characterized by its breadth, existentialist engagement, and commitment to social justice, has left an indelible mark on literature, philosophy, and feminist thought[11†][12†][14†][13†].

Personal Life

Simone de Beauvoir was born into a bourgeois family in the 6th arrondissement of Paris[2†]. Her parents were Georges Bertrand de Beauvoir, a lawyer who once aspired to be an actor, and Françoise Beauvoir (née Brasseur), a wealthy banker’s daughter and devout Catholic[2†]. Simone had a sister, Hélène, who was born two years later[2†].

Beauvoir’s life was closely associated with Jean-Paul Sartre, forming a lifelong intellectual partnership[2†][1†][2†]. Despite their open relationship, they never married or lived together, maintaining their independence while remaining intellectually and romantically involved[2†].

Her life was not without controversy: she briefly lost her teaching job after being accused of sexually abusing some of her students[2†]. She and Sartre, along with numerous other French intellectuals, campaigned for the release of people convicted of child sex offenses and signed a petition which advocated the abolition of age of consent laws in France[2†].

Beauvoir passed away on April 14, 1986, in Paris[2†][1†][2†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Simone de Beauvoir’s work has had a profound impact on feminist philosophy and theory[15†][16†]. Her seminal work, “The Second Sex,” is considered a cornerstone of modern feminism[15†][17†]. In it, she famously stated, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman,” challenging traditional notions of gender and identity[15†][16†].

Beauvoir’s phenomenological approach to sexual difference has been influential in expanding the scope of feminist analysis[15†][16†]. Her conception of the body as a situation wherein nature and cultural interpretations are intertwined has been particularly impactful[15†][16†]. She also highlighted issues such as economic power, legal status, and reproductive rights as central to women’s liberation[15†][16†].

Despite criticisms—for example, for privileging the experiences of white middle-class women—Beauvoir’s work continues to inspire feminist philosophers[15†][16†]. Her legacy extends beyond her philosophical contributions to include her novels, essays, memoirs, and biographies, which continue to be widely read and studied[15†][17†].

In her personal and public life, Beauvoir practiced existentialism and individual freedom[15†][18†]. She championed political causes such as Algerian independence and was an award-winning novelist, philosopher, and celebrated memoirist[15†][18†]. She considered her relationship with Jean-Paul Sartre to be her greatest achievement in life[15†][18†].

Simone de Beauvoir passed away in 1986, but her influence and legacy continue to resonate in the fields of philosophy, feminism, and literature[15†][16†][18†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Simone-Lucie-Ernestine-Marie Bertrand de Beauvoir[1†][2†]
• Born: January 9, 1908, Paris, France[1†][2†]
• Died: April 14, 1986, Paris, France[1†][2†]
• Nationality: French[1†][2†]
• Occupation: Writer, Feminist, Existentialist Philosopher[1†][2†]
• Notable Works: “Le Deuxième Sexe” (The Second Sex), “L’Invitée” (She Came To Stay), “Les Mandarins” (The Mandarins), “Mémoires d’une jeune fille rangée” (Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter)[1†][2†]
• Notable Achievements: Prix Goncourt (1954), Jerusalem Prize (1975), Austrian State Prize for European Literature (1978)[1†][2†]

References and Citations:

1. Britannica - Simone de Beauvoir: French writer [website] - link
2. Wikipedia (English) - Simone de Beauvoir [website] - link
3. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy and its Authors - Beauvoir, Simone de [website] - link
4. UNC-Chapel Hill - HIST/EURO/WMST 259 - Towards Emancipation? Women in Modern European History - Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) [website] - link
5. Britannica - Where was Simone de Beauvoir educated? [website] - link
6. eNotes - Simone de Beauvoir Biography [website] - link
7. Eddusaver - The Accomplishments of Simone de Beauvoir [website] - link
8. Sharksavewriters - The Accomplishments of Simone de Beauvoir [website] - link
9. Google Books - The Works of Simone de Beauvoir: The Second Sex and the Ethics of Ambiguity - Simone de Beauvoir [website] - link
10. Philosophy Talk - Simone de Beauvoir [website] - link
11. eNotes - Simone de Beauvoir Analysis [website] - link
12. Saylor Academy - PHIL304 (2017.A.01) [website] - link
13. Cambridge Core Journals - Simone de Beauvoir's Ethics of Freedom and Absolute Evil [website] - link
14. Stanford University SearchWorks - Simone de Beauvoir's philosophy of lived experience : Literature and metaphysics in SearchWorks catalog [website] - link
15. ScienceGate - The Legacy of Simone de Beauvoir [website] - link
16. Oxford Academic - The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Philosophy - The Legacy of Simone de Beauvoir [website] - link
17. Discover Walks Blog - Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Simone de Beauvoir [website] - link
18. The Guardian - Academic tug-of-love over De Beauvoir legacy [website] - link